Rotary gas engine



July 23, W29. w. N. MQYCONKEY ET AL 1,722Q057 ROTARY GAS ENGINE Filed April 3, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet l BY Y Mia 1 W 'A TTORNEY5 Jilly 23, 1929. w. N. MCCONKEY ET AL 1,722,057

ROTARY GAS ENGINE 7%ENTOR8 ATTORNEK? Ill July 23, 1929.

W. N. M CONKEY ET AL ROTARY GAS ENGI NE Filed April 3. 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet E m K v m Patented July 23, 1929 warren STATES PATENT i0FFlCE'.

WALTER N. MCCONKEY AND KENNETH V, SMITH, OF LIMA, OHIO.

ROTARY GAS ENGINE.

Application filed April 3, 1925. Serial No. 20,388.

This invention relates to rotary engines of the internal combustion type and in its simplified form is particularly useful for automobiles, motor boats and other light vehicles.

Rotary gas engines in their usual form are gines prior to our invention is inaccessibility of the parts due to the number and design thereof making them impractical especially for use in automobiles.

It is, therefore, one of the objects'of the invention to overcome such objections by reducing the number of parts to a minimum and at the same time making the parts which are subject to most wear removable and readily accessible.

Another difficulty is that in rotary engines of this type it is necessary to maintain a sensible clearance between the rotor and the easing in which it runs. The amount of such clearance is determined by the expansion and contraction of the metals due to the heat of the explosion and results in leakage of some of the compressed gases past the clearance and hence a loss or waste of considerable power. Another object of this invention is to overcome this difficulty.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an engine in which all the power take off is taken directly from the rotor.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a simple and eifective timing mecha nism, direct in its distribution.

Still another object of the invention is o provide an engine in which each piston may be made to fire an undetermined number of times per revolution by increasing the number of explosion chambers, hence practically giving a continuous flow of power.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an engine in which the explosion chamber is defined by the casing and a vane or firing head on the reciprocating "cylinder.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an engine which is perfectly balanced at all speeds and loads.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an engine in which all the energy caused by the explosion of the charge is used v from its highest combustion pressure to approximately atmospheric pressure at the exhaust, such energy being exerted tangentially from a common centre.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an engine in which the gyroscopic action thereof is utilized to stabilize and keep the vehicle which it drives in equilibrium.

More generally our invention contemplates a simple, compact and efficient rotary gas engine and one which among other things,-

is suitable for use in light, vehicles, is soonomical in gas consumption, easy to lubricate and efiectively sealed against leakage of pressures.

How the foregoing, together with such other objects and advantages as may herein-v after appear, or are incident to our invention, are obtained is illustrated in preferred form in the accompanying drawings of which Fig. l is a cross-section of our engine with the reciprocating parts in elevation;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section taken on the line 22 of Fig 1; i

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic section showing a different position of the rotor and associated mechanisms and Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of the timing mechanism and shows the wiring for a cylinder engine having two explosion chamers.

A denotes the rotor of our engine, the letter B, the fixed casing surrounding the rotor, the letter C the reciprocating compression creating mechanism, and the letter D. the central fixed shaft.

Each reciprocating compression creating mechanism C in this instance four, consists of a sleeve or cylinder 7 and a piston 8. The sleeves 7 and pistons 8 are reciprocated independently of one another by means of cam and lever mechanisms, the pair of cams 9, .9 and levers 10, 10 operating on the'sleeves and the pair of cams 11, 11 and levers 12, 12 operating on the pistons. The operating levers l0 and 12 are fulcrumed at one end on the pins 13 which are secured in the rotor A and have pin connections at their other ends with the sleeves and pistons, the levers 10 being connected to the sleeves 7 and the levers 12 to the pistons 8. Intermediate the ends of the levers are the cam rolls 14 which work in the cam grooves, saidcams being of the face type. Since the sleeves and pistons work 1n Referring now to Fig. 1 the reference letter port has a series of radial passages 1800mmunicating thru the medium of an annular groove 19 with the cored passages 20 in the rotor A. These passages in turn communicate thru the medium of annular grooves 21 around the openings in which the reciprocating mechanisms are mounted with ports 22. Referring now to the position of the reciproeating parts shown in the right hand portion of Fig. 3 it willbe seen that as the sleeves or cylinders 7 reciprocate due to the action of the cam and cam levers a point is reached where the ports 23 in the sleeves register with the ports 22 thus establishing communication with the source of fuel supply. Just prior to 1 these ports coming into registry the piston 8 moves downward due to the action of its cam and lever creating a partial vacuum which causes a charge of gas to be drawninto the space thus created between the sleeve and piston, when the ports register. The rotor in directed.

shown as grooves of semi-circular cross-sea.

continuing its revolution causes the cam rollers to actuate the levers and reciprocating parts to close the ports 22, the piston 8 travelling upward to compress the admitted charge. This position is shown to the left of Fig. 3.

In the embodiment shown we have pro vided two firing chambers 24 oppositely located in the fixed casing B each of which is provided with a spark plug 25 for igniting the explosive charge and an exhaust port 24 for discharging the burnt products of combustion. When the rotor has revolved to a position so that two opposite sleeves 7 are in registry with the two firing chambers 24 the cam levers are actuated to cause the power heads 7*" of the sleeves to project into the.

chamber thus affording a vane or firing head against which the forces of. the explosion are The firing chambers are here tion into which the heads'of the pistons snugly fit when at their extreme positions. To

make a tight seal around the combustion space we have provided the scaling members 26 in the power heads 7* of the sleeves and theperipheral sealing rings 27 and 28 between the rotor A and the casing B.

The compressed charge in the space previously described between the reciprocating parts is transferred to the combustion space E see Fig. 1) by means of the double seated spring actuatedcylindrical valve 29. The

yalve 29 is held against its lower seat 30 durng compression by means of spring 31, bearmg at its upper end against the valve cage 32 and at its lower end against the collar 33 in the valve stem 34. An additional spring 35 bearing against the collar 33 at its upper end and against the shoulder 36 in the piston rod 37 at its lower end neutralizes the pressure of spring 31 at a certain point of compression. Additional presure on the spring 35 as the piston travels upward relieves the valve 29 from its lower seat 30 and allows the compressed charge to enter the combustion space E thereabove. As soon as this transfer has taken place the valve seats on its upper seat 38 due to the piston 8 being in its upper position and causing the spring 35 to becompressed in an amount which overcomes the action of the spring 31. Thus the charge is confined to the combustion space E for subsequent ignition. The above operation of the valve is reversed as the piston and sleeve recedes to intake. v

The novel construction of the valve just de scribed, its valve cage, its containing sealing rings 29*, sealing the cylindrical wall of the valve against the escape of compressed gases, and the combination of valve seats and ports for compressed charge outlet is an essential and important unit to the proper functioning of the engine.

An important feature of this invention is the arrangement of the firing chamber with its spark plug and exhaust port which arrangement insures that every pound of energy is used from its highest combustion pressure at the point of ignition to an approximately atmospheric pressure at exhaust. The pro- Jecting head of the sleeve receives'the explosive charge onone side while the other side serves to scavenge the firing chamber of burnt gases previously exploded therein. All danger of backfiring is eliminated by our construction. It will thus be seen that by arranging the firing chamber at the periphery of the rotorthe forces of the exploded gases are much greater due to their spending their forces in a radial direction from a common centre and tangentially thereto.

The timing of the ignition is accomplished by means of the timing device shown in Figs. 2 and 4 which consists of a series of contact members 39, one for each reciprocating device, mounted on the master gear 40 which gear is detachably secured to the hub 41 of the rotor'A. Secured to a bracket 42 on the fixed casing B are the terminal connections 43, 43 across which a circuit is completed when the contact members 39 are in contact therewith. The contact is made by the sliding shoe principle insuring effective contact. 1V ith our arrangement of timer andmethod of spark distribution the distribution is direct without the use of reduction gearing or movable partswhich would require oiling'and be subject to wear. It is also to be pointed out that I usually present in rotary engines; has a fixed casing which embodies firing chambers, exhaust ports, water chamber 45 for cooling the engine, spark plugs and terminal connection;

and a rotor which receives all power impulses direct at its periphery, transmitting it directlyto .its own common centre, from which point power takes 05 including water pump, oil pump, starter and timer mechanism. By our arrangement the initial intake charge and the exhaust is controlled without the use of valves. The rotor is symmetrical in design. it having a central hub portion A mounted on anti-friction. bearings, an outer rim like portion A in which the reciprocating devices are mounted and an intermediate web portion A in which the gas passages are cored. The hub portion A and the casing bearings at the extreme ends thereof are designed to prevent leakage of oil.

While we have described our invention in connection with an engine having four reciprocating mechanisms and two firing chambers it is to be understood that an important feature thereof is the Way it lends itself to other combinations by which more power impulses may be had per revolution. As an example the diameter may be made such to accommodate eight cylinders and four firing chambers giving 32 power impulses per revolution, which is the equivalent in explosions to a 64 cylinder four cycle motor of equal bore and stroke.

In short a well balanced symmetrical engine is produced in which the gyroscopic action may be utilized to stabilize and keep the vehicle being propelled in equilibrium.

We claim:

1. In a rotary gas engine, the combination of a rotor, a stator, a radially disposed cylinder mounted for reciprocation in said rotor, a piston in said cylinder, means for actuating said cylinder and piston, an inlet for admitting gas into the cylinder for compression therein, a firing chamber in the stator one wall of which is defined by the rotor and another by said cylinder in its outward reciprocatory position, means for subsequently passing the compressed charge to said firing chamber, and means for igniting the charge.

2. In a rotary gas engine, the combination of a rotor, a stator, a radially disposed cylinder mounted for reciprocation in said rotor, a piston in said cylinder, and means for actuating said cylinder and piston to take in an explosive charge and afterwards compress it, together with valve means for controlling the admission of said charge and to subsequently control its discharge.

3. A rotary gas engine comprising in combination acentral fixed shaft, a rotormounted thereon, a fixed casing surrounding the rotor,

a piston and sleeve mechanism mounted for reciprocation in said rotor, an explosion chamber in the fixed casing, said sleeve mechanism having a position in which it projects into the explosion chamber, means for actuating said piston and sleeve to create a chamber into which the gas is drawn and in which compression subsequently takes place, means for transferring said compressed gas to the explosion chamber and means for igniting the transferred charge.

4. In a rotary gas engine, a rotor, a radially disposed reciprocating sleeve in the rotor having a firing head adapted to receive the force of the explosions substantially tangentially to the rotor, a reciprocating piston in the sleeve, means for actuating the sleeve to move its firing head into firing position and means for actuating the reciprocating piston to compress a charge of gas.

5. In a rotary gas engine, an explosion chamber, a rotor, a reciprocating member in said rotor, a reciprocating piston in said member, a double seated valve in the reciprocating member and means for changing the seating of the valve to control gas inlet to said chamber, said means being actuated as the pressure changes within said member.

6. A rotary gas engine comprising in combination a rotor, a fixed casing surrounding said rotor, a plurality of reciprocating cylinders and pistons, a plurality of explosion chambers in the fixed casing and means whereby the heads of the reciprocating cylinders are made to project into the explosion chambers as the cylinders register therewith.

7. A rotary gas engine comprising in combination a central fixed shaft, a rotor mounted thereon, a fixed casing surrounding the rotor,

said sleeve, a pair of like cams for actuating A the sleeve through the medium of levers fulcrumed in the rotor and a pair of like cams for'actuating the piston through the medium of levers fulcrumed in the rotor.

8. In a rotary gas engine, a rotor, a reciprocating sleeve in the rotor including a firing head adapted to receive the force of the explosions substantially tangentially to the rotor and a reciprocating piston in the sleeve for compressing a charge of gas, together with power take off means carried by the rotor. I

9. A rotary gas engine comprising, in combination, a rotor, a fixed casing surrounding the rotor, a firing chamber in the casing, a cylinder in said rotor, means whereby the head of said cylinder is caused to project into said firing chamber, a reciprocating piston in said cylinder, means for delivering a charge of gas to the cylinder for compression therein and valve means actuated as the prestion of a stator, a rotor, a firingchamber in the stator, a reciprocating cylinder housed in Said rotor having a firing, head adapted to project into said chamber, a reciprocating piston in said cylinder, means for admitting a charge of gas toisaid cylinder for compression by said piston, a valve associated with said cylinder for controlling admission of a compressed charge from'said cylinder to its firing head, and spring means cooperating with said valve and piston to cause the valve to admit a compressed charge of gas to the firing'head when the piston has substantially completed its compression stroke.

11. A rotary gas engine comprising in combination a central fixed shaft, a rotor mountedsleeve mechanism when in a predeterminedposition, means for actuating said piston and sleeve to create a chamber into which the gas is drawn and in which compression subsequently takes place, means for passing said gas to the firing chamber, and means for exploding the charge when the sleeve mechanism is in position to constitute the movable Wall of the firing chamber.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto signed our names. a

' WALTER N. MGCONKEY.

K. V. SMITH. I i 

